Magazine gun



(No Model.) 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. L. L. HEPBURN MAGAZINE GUN. No. 298,377. Patented May 13, 1884.

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L. L HEPBURN 3 Sheets Sheet 2.

MAGAZINE GUN.

Patented May 13, 1884.

N. PETER5. PMIO-Lilhogmphs (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

L. L. HEPBURN.

MAGAZINE GUN.

N0. 298,377. Patented May 13, 1884.

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LEWIS L. HEPBURN, OF ILION, NEIV YORK.

MAGAZINE-GUN.

SPECIFICATION, forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,377, dated May 13, 1884.

Application filed December 3, 1883.

To t whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS L. HEPBURN, of Ilion, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Magazine Fire-Arms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to magazine-guns; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination of the parts constituting the operating or breech mechanism, as hereinafter more fully described;

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the breech part, with the side of the receiver broken away to show the mechanism. Fig. 2 is asimilar view, looking from the opposite side. Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the breech open and the cartridge-carrier up in position to deliver a cartridge to the chamber of the barrel. Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the carrier depressed and the breech unlocked, ready to be opened. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are views showing the parts more in detail.

The object of my present invention is to makea good and efficient magazinegun, in which the system, as it is termed, or operating mechanism shall be strong, simple, and compact, and occupy but little space lengthwise, thus making what is termed a short system. This gun belongs to that class in which the magazine is located under and parallelwith thebarrel,thecartridges beingpushed into the magazine through an opening in the side of the receiver or frame, said opening being closed by a spring-plate opening inward, and which, being well known, is not shown.

In the drawings, A indicates the receiver or frame, and B represents the breech-bolt, which is made to slide to and from the rear end of the barrel in a straight line, it having on its sides ribs or projections sliding in corresponding grooves in the inner walls of the receiver. The form of this breech-bolt is shown more clearly in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. Its upper portion is of the proper width and length to close the top of the receiver when shoved forward, it being hollowed out longitudinally on its upper surface, to make it light and give it a neat appearance. For about half its length it has a projection, 13, on its under side, to form a solid plug or abutment in line with the barrel, as shown, the firingpin P ex- (No model.)

tending longitudinallythrough this depressed portion and through a shoulder on the rear end of the upper portion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the rear end being recessed for the hammer to'enter, so as to hit the end of the firingpin, as shown in Fig. 5, the rear end of the breech-bolt being shaped as shown in Fig. 3, so that when closed it will close and make a finish to the corresponding part of the receiver, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, in which the breech is represented as closed. At the rear end of this part B it has a shoulder, a, slightly inclined," so as to present aface against which the locking-brace 0 shall have a fair bearing. In the left-hand side of this breech-bolt B, I cut a recess, h, as shown in Fig. 2, for the end of lever L to engage in for the purpose of moving the breech-bolt to and fro, as hereinafter more fully described.

To look the breech-bolt in position, 1 provide a solid brace, 0. (Shown detached in Fig. 6 and in position in Fig. 2.) As shown, this brace O is provided at its front end with two shoulders, t 7c, the first of whichabuts against the shoulder a on the part B of the breech-bolt, while the shoulder abuts against a corresponding shoulder, t, on the carrier E, as, shown in Fig. 2, which represents these parts in the position they occupy when the gun is fired. This brace G is provided with a lip or projection, cl, against which an arm or projection, 0, on the guard-lever L bears when the breech is closed, as shown in Fig. 2, thus holding the brace O securely in place.

The cartridge-carrier E is made in the form shown in Fig. 6, and both it and the brace G are pivoted on the same pin a. as shown in Figs. 1. 2, 3, and 4, the carrier E being offset at its rear portion, as shown in Fig. 6, to per mit the brace C to work alongside of it. In the inner side of this offset portion a recess. 0", is formed, which terminates at its rear end. in a hole or circular recess, i, to receive the heady of a pawl, G, which hasits opposite end forked to engage at the proper time with a stud or screw, 0, which projects from the side of the lever L, as shown in Fig. 3. The adjoining face or side of brace O is also recessed or cut away, as shown at 1, Fig. 6, so that when it and the carrier E are both pivoted on the pin a there is a space left between them for the pawl G to oscillate freely in, its movements being limited by the walls of the recess 0', in which it rests for about one-half its thickness. The function of this pawl G is to raise the carrier E at the proper time, as the leverguard L is thrown down to open the breech. The breech-brace O has also a lip, 20, at its lower front corner, as shown in Fig. 6, which rests against the under side of the carrier when both are raised, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when the carrier is depressed it brings the brace 0 down also, thus unlocking the breech-bolt. The carrier E is provided with a hook or lip, I, on its under side near its rear end, as shown in the several figures, and the laterally-projecting arm 1) of lever L is provided with a spring-catch, m, which, as the lever is closed, engages with this lip I, so that when the lever L is thrown down it draws down the carrier E and brace 0, these movements being effected during the first-part of the movement of lever L and before the lever L commences to move the breech-bolt. Owing to the peculiar construction and arrangement of the parts, it will be seen that, different from mostguns, the carrier E remains up, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when the breech is closed and until the gun has been fired, it being depressed by the first part of the movement of the lever L to open thebreech, and raised again during the last part of the same or forward movement of thelever L, the

result of which is that there is no cartridge in the carrier while the gun is being fired, or so long as it has a cartridge in the chamber of the barrel. The carrier E is provided with a depending lip, b, at its front end, which prevents the cartridges from being shoved out of the magazine while the carrier is elevated, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The carrier is bored out longitudinally of the proper size to receive a cartridge, and has a cut or opening alongits top its entire length, this opening, however, being a little less in width than the diameter of the cartridge, so that the latter cannot be thrown out of it by the quick upward movement of the carrier. At its rear portion this opening is slightly enlarged on the upper side by cutting away the walls on each side in a circular form and beveling. as shown in Fig. (5, which is done to permit the empty shell, when withdrawn by the hook-extracter a, to turn up endwise, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, so that it may be readily thrown clear of the gun.

The part B of the breech-bolt is provided at its front end with two small studs or projections, 0 0, on opposite sides, one of which is shown in Figs. 1 and 5, which hold the shell against the pressure of the spring-hook extractor a when drawn out of the chamber, and until struck by the rising carrier, which ejects it clear of the arm.

In order to hold the lever L closed, it has a cam projection, 0, formed on one side, just above the point at which it is pivoted in the guard-strap, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and a spring, 0, is secured to the upper side of said strap, as shown in Fig. 1, in such a position that as the lever is closed the end ofthis spring bears on said cam 0, thus helping to close the lever during the latter part of its movement, and which, engaging against the abrupt or rear shoulder of said cam, serves to hold it closed. The front end of this spring is rounded On its under side, so that when force is applied to the lever to throw it down the spring will ride up on the point of the cam c, and thus permit the lever to be opened.

The part B of the breeeh-bolt is cut away or flattened on each side, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to freely enter the slot in the top of the carrier, or rather to permit the carrier to rise and fall by passing up and down over this narrowed part of the breeclrbolt while the latter is closed, the part B of the breech-bolt being so formed as to permit it to also slide to and fro through the bore of the carrier while the latter is in its elevated position.

In order to retract the firing-pin in theact of opening the breech, I pivot an elbow-lever,

f, (shown in Fig. 6,) to the under side of the breech-bolt B, one end of said lever being arranged to engage with the firing-pin P, while its opposite end is arranged to strike against the side wall ofthe receiver as the breech-bolt is moved backward, and thus, by causing the lever f to oscillate on its pivot, it is made to retract the firing-pin, so as to bring its front end flush with the front face of the breech-bolt, or nearly so, and as the firing-pin remains in this position when the breech is closed all danger of prematurely exploding the charge by the sudden closing of the breech is avoided. In order to permit the necessary forward movement of the firing-pin to fire the charge, a recess, 1, is formed in the wall of thereceiver at a point opposite the position occupied by the end of the lever f when the breech is closed. as shown in Fig. 6, and which permits an unobstructed movement of the lever-f, and consequently of the firing-pin. Instead of the recess y, a projection may be formed on the side wall of the receiver for the end of lever f to strike against as the breech-bolt is moved back, in which case the outer arm of lever f will be made correspondingly shorter, the result being the same, except that with the projection the firing-pin would be free to move at all times, except when the leverf was in contact with the projection, whereas, if the recess be used, the pin can move only when the lever is opposite the recess.

The guard-lever L is pivoted to the guardstrap in the usual manner, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. Inside of the receiver this lever is prolonged so as to form an arm or lever, L, which is offset or thrown to one side, so asto extend up alongside of the carrier and locking-brace and the part B of the breechbolt, as shown in Fig. 2, and by dotted lines in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. The upper or free end of this lever L is arranged to engage in the IIO recess h of the breech-bolt as the lever L is thrown down, and thus move the breech-bolt back and open the breech; but, as shown in Fig. 2, the relative position of these parts is such that the lever Lmoves far enough to depress or throw down the locking brace and the carrier before the lever L comes in con tact with the breech-bolt, and thus unlocks the breech-bolt before it begins its backward movement. The reverse movement of the levers L and L first moves the breech-bolt forward, shoving the cartridge from the carrier into the chamber, and then throws up the locking-brace 0, thus locking both it and the carrier in their elevated position, the brace G, of course, locking the breech-bolt B B fast, so that the gun is ready for firing. It will be observed that the hammer H is shoved back to full-cock by the backward movement of the breech-bolt B, which, after having forced the hammer back to the cocked position, then slides over it, as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to prevent the gun from being fired before the lever is closed and the breech securely locked, I provide a latch, N, which is pivoted to the guard-strap in rear of the trigger, as shown in Fig. 7. The front end of this latch N is bent downward, so as. to engage against a shoulder, e, on the side of the trigger, below its pivot or center of motion, and which prevents the trigger from being pulled far enough to release the hammer. In order to raise the front end of this latch N, it is provided with a stud, R, which projects down ward through a hole in the guard-strap, as shown in Fig. 7, against which the guard-leverL strikes as it is closed, and thereby raises the front end of the latch, thus unlocking. the trigger '1, so it can be pulled to release the hammer.

The trigger is made in two separate pieces, the nose S and the finger-piece T, both being pivoted on the same pin, as shown in Fig. 7, they being so formed as to permit the nosepiece to move a little independently of the part Twhen the hammer is cocked, as at such time the part T is prevented from moving back-- ward by the latch N. The trigger or searspring M is arranged to bear on the rear portion of the nose-piece S, and it has a short spring-arm, 2, arranged to bear on the latch to hold it in place.

To secure the front end of the magazinetube Q, to the barrel, I provide a ring, 0, of proper size to slip over the end of the tube, as shown in Fig. 8, this ring being provided with an annular stud, which is set into a corresponding recess cut in the under side of the barrel, there being a central portion of this recess left solid, which fits into the center of the annular stud when the parts are put together, as shown in section in Fig. 8, the ring being shown detached and in perspective.

. -When these parts are united, ascrew, d, is in serted through the ring Oand the tube Q, and

has its end screwed into a hole in the center of the solid portion within the annular recess cut in the barrel, as shown in Fig. 8, thus securel y fastening the tube to the barrel and preventing it from being accidentally displaced by blows or otherwise, and at the same time avoiding the use of a band around the barrel forthat purpose, which is desirable, especially in sportingguns, or such as have an octagonal barrel. The rear end of the magazine-tube rests in the front part of the receiver, and is covered by the forearm of the stock, as usual.

By examining Fig. 2 it will be seen that when the lever L is closed against the stock, the upper end of the lever or arm L is thrown out of the recess h in the breech-bolt, and is carried some distance forward and downward,

so as to permit of sufficient movement of the lever, when thrown down to open the breech, to first draw down the locking-brace and carrier before it begins to move back the breechbolt. This arrangement is important, as otherwise the locking-brace and carrier could not be brought to the required positions at the proper time. It will also be seen that the carrier E is made to strike the empty shell as the carrier is elevated. while the breech-bolt is completing its backward movement and before it has ceasedto move, whereby the ejection or throwing of the shell clear of the arm is rendered very effectual. The movements of the carrier and the breech-bolt are so timed that the carrier shall strike the withdrawn shell just when it has been drawn back to bring its head directly over the beveled shoulders t of the carrier E, which, as previously explained, permits the shell to be turned up, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 3, at which time the spring action of the extractor a and the upward movement of the carrier combine to throw it clear of the gun.

By these several improvements I am enabled to produce a very efficient and safe magazine-gun, and one having short and compact system.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, in a magazine-gun, of the reciprocating breech-bolt B B, the pivoted cartridge-carrier E, and locking-brace O, with the operating-lever L. provided with an extension, L, which is offset or made to project laterally within the frame, so as to work by the side of the carrier, locking-brace, and

breech closer or plug B, substantially as described.

2. The pivoted carrier E, provided with a lip, I, and pawl G, in combination with the lever L, provided with the spring-detent m, and the stud or projection 0, said parts being constructed and arranged in relation to each other substantially as described, whereby the carrier is both depressed and then elevated during the forward motion of the lever to open the breech.

3. In combination with the reciprocating breech-bolt provided with the shoulder u, and carrier E, provided with a shoulder, t, the pivoted locking-brace provided with the shoulders i and 70, said parts being arranged relatively substantially as shown and described, whereby the brace is caused to lock both the breech bolt and the carrier in position, as set forth.

4. In combination with the pivoted carrier E and locking-brace 0, both jonrnaled on the same pivot or bolt, the operating-lever L, provided with a shoulder or projection, 0, arranged to bear against or under a projection, Z, on the locking-brace when the breech is closed, whereby said lever is made to lock or hold the locking-brace and carrier in position, as shown and described.

5. The combination of the reciprocating breech-bolt, the pivoted carrier E, having the curved recesses t formed in its upper face near the rear, and the operating-lever L L, said parts being constructed and arranged to operatein relation to each other substantially as described, whereby the carrier is made to rise and strike the withdrawn cartridgeshell some time before the breech-bolt has completed its backward movement, and thus eject the empty shell with ease and certainty.

6. The combination of the reciprocating breech-bolt provided with the recess h, the pivoted carrier E, and the operating-lever L L, said parts being constructed and arranged substantially as described, whereby the lever is permitted to move far enough to throw down the locking-brace and carrier before it commences to operate on the breech-bolt, as set forth.

7. The combination, in a breech-loading or magazine gun, of a reciprocating breech-bolt, a pivoted or swinging brace arranged to lock the breech-bolt closed, and an operating-1ever, L, provided with an extended arm, L, which is offset or made to project laterally and work alongside of the locking brace within the frame, substantially as shown and described.

8. The means for securing the front end of the magazine-tube to the barrel, consisting of the ring 0, provided with a projection adapted to fit in a corresponding recess in the side of the barrel, and the screw (1, the same being arranged substantially as shown and described.

LEWIS L. HEPBURN.

\Vitnesses:

GEORGE O. RASBAOH, THOS. RICHARDSON. 

